Collapsible display rack



Sept.. 19, 1933. J. HoRwATH 1792737l COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY RACK Filed June. 20, 1930 I5 Sheets-Sheet l wiw- Sept, 119, 1933. J, HQRWATH 1,927,371

COLLAPS IBLE DI SPLAY RACK Filed June 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m D H LU L D d? J5 n Sep'i., i9, 1933, J. HORWATH y coLLAPsIBLE DISPLAY Rmx A 3 Sheets-Sheer?l 5 Hu-"""Y" Filed June 20, 1930 Patented Sept. 19, 1931?l I COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY RACK Julius Horwath, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Arvey Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation `ol" Illinois Application `llune 20, 1930. Serial No. 462,489 f 3 Claims.

Fig. 4 is a development of the shelf structure.

Fig. 5 is a. side elevational view of one of the transverse partitions.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a slightly modified display rack having downwardly sloping shelves.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a development of the modified shelf structure.

Fig. 10 is a development of the modified body portion of the rack.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the longitudinal division walls which separate the rack into tiers.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, ll indicates a display rack which may be used for displaying 'merchandise of various descriptions, such as bottles, Asmall containers or the like, and may comprise a body portion 2, a shelf or tier structure 3 and a plurality of vertically disposed 40 partitions 4. The rack 1 may be constructed of cardboard, celluloid, 'sheet metal, or any other such material having characteristics similar to those enumerated, or if desired, portions of the rack may be constructed of one material, Whereas other portions of the rack may be constructed of another material, such as, for example, the body portion 2 may be constructed of sheet metal, Whereas the remaining portions 3 and 4 may be constructed of cardboard. Any such combination of materials is contemplated in the present invention.

, The body portion 2 may comprise a back 5 which may be adapted to be disposed in a vertical position. Wings 6 may be joined to each of the lateral sides of the back- 5, or if desired,

Wings 6 and back 5 may be constructed of one piece of material, and upon assembly said Wings may be folded at right angles to back 5 along dotted lines 7, as shown best in Fig. 3. The periphery of each of the wings 6 may be arcuate 60 in shape, or if desired said periphery may be cut to :form some more or less elaborate design. It is to be understood, however, that any particular shape is contemplated in the formation of the back 5 and wing 6, and hence I do not Wish to 65 be limited to the precise form shown. Each of the wings 6 may be provided with apertures or slots 8, said slots being disposed in a more or less stepwise position upon said wings. The purpose of the slots 8 will be hereinafter more fully de- 70 scribed.

The shelf structure 3 may comprise a rectangular portion 9 having a plurality of outwardly extending tongues 10 spacedl at periodic intervals along each lateral side thereof. The mem- 75 ber 9 may be folded along lines 11, 12 and 13, and when in assembled condition may produce the structure shown generally at 14 in Fig. 2 wherein double longitudinal division Walls 15 may be formed by bending the structure 9 upon the 80 lines 11,- andr` the bases or shelves 16 may be formed by bending member 9 along the lines 12 and 13. Upon bending member 9 along lines 11, tongues 10 are bent double upon themselves forming hook-like elements 17 which may, if desired, 85 be riveted or stitched as shown at 18 in Fig. 1.

In case a relatively thick material such as heavy cardboard is utilized in the construction of the rack, to facilitate bending upon the lines 11, 12 and 13 said lines may be scored on the side of the member 9 opposite to the direction in which the material is to be bent.4 This particular construction is not shown in the drawings, but it is believed Willbe apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

To assemble this structure, member 9 may be folded as hereinbefore indicated and elements 17 may be stitched to assist in holding the bent structure in its bent position. In addition to functioning as a retaining element the stitchings or rivets 18 also serve as a reinforcing means for the hook-like elements 1'1. The wings 6 may then be folded along lines 7 to a position substantially at right angles to back 5, and hooklike elements 17 upon each side of the shelf or tier structure 14 may be inserted in slots 19 formed by the overhangingrele'ments 17 and may be adapted to engage in slots 8 and thereno by maintain wings 6 in a right angle position with respect to back 5 and also maintain structure 14 in its proper position.

If desired, each of the tiers thus formed may be divided transversely into a plurality of compartments 20 in which the merchandise desired to be displayed may be disposed. The compartments 20 maybe formed by the positioning of a plurality of vertical division walls 4 in operative position along the length of the tier structure. Each of the division walls 4 may be slotted upon its lower side to form a plurality of projections 21 interposed between the slots 22. The opposite side 23 of the partitions 4 may conform in contour, if desired, with the outer contour of wing 6, or may take any particular shape which may be found suitable.

As shown best in Fig. 4, the member 9 may be provided with a plurality of appropriately spaced apertures 24 having their transverse center line along the line of bend 11. Upon folding .member 9 along the lines 1l apertures 24 are transformed into spaced open slots 25 opening to the upper surface of the longitudinal division walls 15. In positioning partitions 4 upon the rack, slots 22 may be adapted to engage with apertures 25, and projections 21 upon said partition may be adapted to be disposed within compartments 20. In this manner partitions 4 may be maintained in a desired vertical position.

It can readily be seen that in my structure the same is maintained in assembled position primarily by means of the longitudinal division walls 15 and the projecting hook-like elements 17 which extend beyond the lateral walls of the wings 6. Hence, my invention is directed particularly to the provision of a multi-ply supporting means provided along the entireLV length of the division walls 15 and terminating in multiply hook-like elements 17.

As another feature of my invention, the entire rack (when knocked down) may be folded into a package having an area not exceeding the area of the .back 5. In shipping a structure of this character it can readily be seen that a display rack which can be folded into such a relatively small space is highly desirable.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6 a slight modification of my rack is shown at 26 and may com,

prise a body structure 27 having a back 28 and wings 29. Wings 29 may be provided with spaced slots 30 which may open to the upper edge of said wings. 4Back 28 may be providedvwith an elongated non-linear slit 31, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Rack 26 may be also be provided with an inclined shelf structure 32 which may comprise a substantial rectangular member 33 having 'a plurality of outwardly extending tongues 34 upon each of the lateral sides thereof.

34 may be stitched or riveted, as shown best at 37 in Fig. 7. Upon the folding of member 33 upon the lines indicated inclined tiers 38 may be provided divided longitudinally by the vertically positioned division walls 39 of multi-ply construction. One end of the element 33 may be bent along lines 40 and 41 and may provide an elongated hook-like portion 42 which may be adapted toengage in slot 31. a

As a feature of this embodiment of mylinvention, merchandise which may be positioned upon the inclined tiers 38 may be more readily apparent to prospective purchasers. In addition, the display rack 26 possesses the same struetural features of strength and flexibility as pointed out in connection with rack 1. Rack 26 may be constructed in two pieces, and when in knocked down form will present a package which may be of* minimum dimensions.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display rack comprising in combination, Y

a body comprising a back and side members, said side members being provided with slots, a shelf structure suspended between said side members, comprising a plurality of longitudinal tiers divided longitudinally by a plurality of continuous division walls of multi-ply structure each of said division walls extending above the surface of the azacent shelf, said walls terminating in projections which operatively engage in said slots in the side members.

2. In combination, a display rack comprising a back and a plurality of foldable sides integrally' connected to said back, the width of the sides being less than the width of the back, a shelf structure normally supported between said sides comprising a substantially rectangular strip of width substantially equal to that of the back, a plurality of tongues projecting from each longitudinal side of the strip, said strip being folded along a plurality of transverse lines to form a plurality of tiers separated by integral multi-plyv division walls which extends above the respective tiers, said division Walls terminating at said projecting tongues which engage with said wings to rsupport said shelf structure, the entire rack when in knocked down position being foldable within an area substantially equal to the area of th back.

43. A displayrack comprising in combination, a body comprising a back and side members and a shelf structure supported between said side members, comprising a plurality of longitudinal tiers divided` longitudinally by a plurality of vertically positioned integral division walls 'of multi-ply structure which lextend above the surface of the respective tiers, said walls terminating in projections which operatively engage said side members, each of said projections suspendedly supporting the forward edge of one shelf and the rear edge of the adjacent lower shelf.

l JULIUS HORWATH. 

